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How to Protect Yourself from Dog Bites On Your Walks
Imagine you're out on your daily walk, you turn around the corner and come face to face with a snarling Cujo dog ready to do you harm. What would you do in that situation? What you learn on this page could help save your life, please study it carefully. Nothing cuts a good walk short faster than a snarling dog, but what exactly makes dogs more inclined to go on the attack?
We've gathered the following information to help protect walkers from unforeseen confrontations with unfriendly dogs. The next time you go for a walk outdoors, remember these key points if you encounter dogs along your route.
Dogs have a natural inborn prey or predatory drive. They are natural born hunters by design, although some individuals or specific breeds have a much higher prey drive than others. Movement, as with someone walking past on foot, can set off this innate prey drive can cause them to go on the chase or even attack what they see as nothing more than moving prey.
If you've ever witnessed a dog chasing your car down as you drive past, it's partly due to this inborn drive or desire to chase after moving objects and go on the hunt.
A walker naturally draws a lot of attention to themselves as he or she travels past the dog's line of sight. If the dog is in the right mood or has a higher prey instinct, it can be normal for him to do what comes naturally and take off after the person.
As a general rule, most dogs that walkers are not acting out of a mean nature. They simply are relenting to that natural inclination to chase and hunt down prey, and the walker is the perfect target to go after.
It is natural for a dog's behavior to escalate over time. If you regularly encounter dogs on your walks, you may have noted that they initially tend to bark as you walk past them. This barking is their way of telling you to go away. When you continuing walking past, you give them exactly what they wanted, and they won't charge you.
Over time, however, a dog can become braver and decide that only barking at you isn't enough. At this point, the dog may choose to chase after you or attempt to cut you off by stepping in front of you. Now you have a whole new set of problems on your hands! The question becomes, what do you do in this situation?
Walkers are often extremely motivated and dedicated individuals, but the thought of facing an unfriendly dog can be daunting. With a little preparation, however, walkers can prepare themselves for these potential encounters and have a plan in place that affords some much-needed peace of mind.
Following these steps can make you much more relaxed about the possibility of facing angry dogs.
The first step is always to be conscious of your surroundings, which isn't always easy, especially for meditative walks. We tend to use the act more as a personal time for meditation, often getting lost in our thoughts.
Some degree of letting your mind wander is healthy while walking, but you want to be aware enough to notice the presence of dogs as they approach or as you travel past them.
Watching for dogs can be even trickier if one approaches you from behind. So it's ideal to be somewhat alert to your surroundings and keep your headphones at a reasonable volume.
When approached by a dog, stop and carefully evaluate the situation. Don't ignore it and continue walking. Movement often acts like an intoxicating drug to a dog. Stop and speak to the dog in a relaxed and calm voice and see if his behavior changes. Depending on his next moves, you can determine what to do next.
A dog's body language can tell you a lot about its intentions when if you take the time to notice. An aggressive dog will stare you down. It is best not to look an aggressive dog in the eye, as it is likely to see it as a direct threat.
The exception to this is with a dog that is acting out of fear. Fearful dogs are more likely to attack you from behind because they feel less threatened that way. It is ideal to look a fearful dog in the eye, as this will allow him to see you mean no harm and he may lower his defenses.
If you're dealing with an aggressive, frontal attack, try to place an object between you and the dog. A park bench, a bicycle, or bush will do the trick. Just try to put a little distance between the two of you as you continue to speak in a calm voice.
If you're wearing sunglasses, a hat, or other protective gear that covers your face, take it off. Having your face covered can be scary to some dogs and exposing your face may make you less of a perceived threat.
Some walkers have also reported success with using friendly terminology the dog may be likely to hear from his owner. As silly as it may sound, saying these phrases could keep you out of a direct fight:
- "You're such a good dog!"
- "Do you want to go for a walk?"
- "Where's your ball?"
Communicating with the dog as if you were his owner may help diffuse the situation rapidly.
Hopefully, you make it a habit of carrying your cell phone with you when you walk or jog. If all else fails to get the situation under control, call for emergency assistance.
Don't Hurl Objects at the Dog
Throwing a shoe or a rock at the dog may be tempting. However, this behavior only tends to set them off and make them angrier. Spraying the dog with a stream of water from your water bottle is also not recommended.
Just like dealing with angry toddlers, keeping calm goes a long way toward diffusing the situation.
Don't lose track of the dog's location. You don't want it coming at you from behind and catching you off guard.
These tips don't necessarily cover all aspects of a surprise encounter with an unfriendly Cuju hybrid, but these tips will certainly give you some ammunition for efficiently handling this stressful situation.
Dogs may be known as man's best friend, but you won't be feeling very friendly when up against a snarling and upset beast that's ready to pounce at a moment's notice.
Rather than spend your running time perched on a tree limb just out of reach of the dog's razor-sharp teeth, you can educate yourself on what causes dogs to behave this way. Use the advice on this page to help create a solid plan of action for those times when you inevitably come across a less than friendly dog on your walking route.
The pointers mentioned above will help you read the dog's body language, determine its level of aggression or fearfulness, and know what steps to take to disarm the situation and protect yourself from a full-on attack.
We've gathered the following information to help protect walkers from unforeseen confrontations with unfriendly dogs. The next time you go for a walk outdoors, remember these key points if you encounter dogs along your route.
What Makes Dogs Attack?
Dogs have a natural inborn prey or predatory drive. They are natural born hunters by design, although some individuals or specific breeds have a much higher prey drive than others. Movement, as with someone walking past on foot, can set off this innate prey drive can cause them to go on the chase or even attack what they see as nothing more than moving prey.
If you've ever witnessed a dog chasing your car down as you drive past, it's partly due to this inborn drive or desire to chase after moving objects and go on the hunt.
How to Protect Yourself from Dog Bites On Your Walks
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A walker naturally draws a lot of attention to themselves as he or she travels past the dog's line of sight. If the dog is in the right mood or has a higher prey instinct, it can be normal for him to do what comes naturally and take off after the person.
As a general rule, most dogs that walkers are not acting out of a mean nature. They simply are relenting to that natural inclination to chase and hunt down prey, and the walker is the perfect target to go after.
It is natural for a dog's behavior to escalate over time. If you regularly encounter dogs on your walks, you may have noted that they initially tend to bark as you walk past them. This barking is their way of telling you to go away. When you continuing walking past, you give them exactly what they wanted, and they won't charge you.
Over time, however, a dog can become braver and decide that only barking at you isn't enough. At this point, the dog may choose to chase after you or attempt to cut you off by stepping in front of you. Now you have a whole new set of problems on your hands! The question becomes, what do you do in this situation?
How to Successfully Plan for Dog Encounters
Walkers are often extremely motivated and dedicated individuals, but the thought of facing an unfriendly dog can be daunting. With a little preparation, however, walkers can prepare themselves for these potential encounters and have a plan in place that affords some much-needed peace of mind.
Following these steps can make you much more relaxed about the possibility of facing angry dogs.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
The first step is always to be conscious of your surroundings, which isn't always easy, especially for meditative walks. We tend to use the act more as a personal time for meditation, often getting lost in our thoughts.
Some degree of letting your mind wander is healthy while walking, but you want to be aware enough to notice the presence of dogs as they approach or as you travel past them.
Watching for dogs can be even trickier if one approaches you from behind. So it's ideal to be somewhat alert to your surroundings and keep your headphones at a reasonable volume.
Assess the Situation
When approached by a dog, stop and carefully evaluate the situation. Don't ignore it and continue walking. Movement often acts like an intoxicating drug to a dog. Stop and speak to the dog in a relaxed and calm voice and see if his behavior changes. Depending on his next moves, you can determine what to do next.
Determine if the Dog is Aggressive or Fearful
A dog's body language can tell you a lot about its intentions when if you take the time to notice. An aggressive dog will stare you down. It is best not to look an aggressive dog in the eye, as it is likely to see it as a direct threat.
The exception to this is with a dog that is acting out of fear. Fearful dogs are more likely to attack you from behind because they feel less threatened that way. It is ideal to look a fearful dog in the eye, as this will allow him to see you mean no harm and he may lower his defenses.
Distance Yourself from the Dog
If you're dealing with an aggressive, frontal attack, try to place an object between you and the dog. A park bench, a bicycle, or bush will do the trick. Just try to put a little distance between the two of you as you continue to speak in a calm voice.
If you're wearing sunglasses, a hat, or other protective gear that covers your face, take it off. Having your face covered can be scary to some dogs and exposing your face may make you less of a perceived threat.
Some walkers have also reported success with using friendly terminology the dog may be likely to hear from his owner. As silly as it may sound, saying these phrases could keep you out of a direct fight:
- "You're such a good dog!"
- "Do you want to go for a walk?"
- "Where's your ball?"
Communicating with the dog as if you were his owner may help diffuse the situation rapidly.
Call for Assistance if Needed
Hopefully, you make it a habit of carrying your cell phone with you when you walk or jog. If all else fails to get the situation under control, call for emergency assistance.
What to Avoid When Faced with an Angry Dog
Don't Hurl Objects at the Dog
Throwing a shoe or a rock at the dog may be tempting. However, this behavior only tends to set them off and make them angrier. Spraying the dog with a stream of water from your water bottle is also not recommended.
Don't Raise Your Voice
Just like dealing with angry toddlers, keeping calm goes a long way toward diffusing the situation.
Don't Turn the Other Cheek
Don't lose track of the dog's location. You don't want it coming at you from behind and catching you off guard.
These tips don't necessarily cover all aspects of a surprise encounter with an unfriendly Cuju hybrid, but these tips will certainly give you some ammunition for efficiently handling this stressful situation.
Dogs may be known as man's best friend, but you won't be feeling very friendly when up against a snarling and upset beast that's ready to pounce at a moment's notice.
Rather than spend your running time perched on a tree limb just out of reach of the dog's razor-sharp teeth, you can educate yourself on what causes dogs to behave this way. Use the advice on this page to help create a solid plan of action for those times when you inevitably come across a less than friendly dog on your walking route.
The pointers mentioned above will help you read the dog's body language, determine its level of aggression or fearfulness, and know what steps to take to disarm the situation and protect yourself from a full-on attack.
